Kyrgyzstan Driving Laws and Tips

These rules are not comprehensive or exhaustive, but they should generally keep you out of trouble. Police stops and corruption are an unfortunate part of travel in Central Asia. These tips should help minimize the problems.

• City speed limit 60 kph unless otherwise marked.
• Between towns 90 kph
• Any time you see a town limit sign, you must slow to 60 kph.
• Special zones are usually marked 40 kph, those signs are good for 300 meters or until the next intersection unless a specific distance is noted.
• Turn your headlights on all the time. Daytime running lights are not enough. This applies at all times including during daylight.
• No right turn on red.
• Watch out for pedestrians in crosswalks. As soon as someone steps off the curb police start to stop cars that proceed across the crosswalk. Once the pedestrian passes you, you can go. This applies for intersections as well. Watch for blue signs indicating crosswalks and for “zebra stripes” on the road. Police like to sit behind crosswalks where pedestrians are obscured by trees and other objects, so be careful.
• Police must have a video clearly showing your car going over the speed limit if they stop you for speeding.
• Typical fines are 500-2000 som.
• Fines can be paid on the spot using Visa (or probably also Mastercard). Police must allow you to pay by card. They cannot fine you otherwise (no matter how much they complain). Call us if you have a problem with police.
• ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL. If you have a beer with your dinner you cannot drive. If police can even slightly smell alcohol (or even sometimes toothpaste) they will assume you are drunk.
• Police will be standing on the side of the road and will waive you over if they want you to stop. You have the right to record what they are doing. You can also get us on the phone. Do not be intimidated by the Police.
• If they ask for your passport, they mean the cars technical passport, give them the car registration documents.
• Do not show police a rental contract, while legal, it means money was involved and then they usually want some. As a rule only give them the exact papers they ask for, never volunteer paperwork.